USA- Huge Choice of Holidays
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No matter how many times we British make the journey to the United States of America, there is always something new to reward the holidaymaker for their 3,000 mile plus trek.
The majority of Brits who fly the Atlantic for their annual holidays will actually only visit a relatively few US destinations in any great numbers.
The bulk – more than a million a year – love the Sunshine State of Florida where there is a growing stock of holiday properties – villas, apartments and executive homes – for rent.
There is also an increasing number of Britons owning properties in Florida, often a good investment in a state which offers virtually year-round sunshine, consistently high temperatures and some of the best beaches in the world.
Nine or so hours flying is no hardship when the end result is tropical America on the doorstep of the Caribbean where summer high temperatures average 33°C and, even in December, 23°C can be the sunny average.
As a peninsular state Florida has thousands of kilometres of soft sandy beaches and safe bathing. And variety is not a problem. On the west coast, the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico are clear and, on the whole, relatively calm most of the time.
The eastern coast has more spirited bathing and watersports because of the Atlantic rollers and this side of the state has good surfing and windsurfing conditions.
Florida is the most popular among Britons of all the American states and, surprisingly, there are only two or three other areas where British holidaymakers make for in any great numbers.
These include New England, the most northerly region on the American east coast and a very diverse area.
The West is also appealing to the British and the states of Arizona and California have warmth and sun records to rival Florida – but they require a few more hours in the air.
New England in the American north east is a grouping of six picturesque states – Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. Aptly named, there is much familiar to Brits about New England not least the place names. New England makes a good year round destination in that in summer the spectacular forests are excellent places for active holidays and because of the northerly latitudes in winter the snows come early and get the skiers and snowboarders off to a good start.
New England has a spectacular and rugged coastline with excellent family beaches and the opportunity for whale watching and coastal hiking and biking.
Many of the attributes that make the American east coast popular with British holidaymakers are replicated on the Pacific Coast 3,000 miles away in the west of the country.
The giant state of California takes up almost 60 per cent of the Pacific coastline and offers a huge amount to keep holidaying families contented no matter what their ages.
More people are now becoming aware that with internet enquiries and bookings it is relatively easy to rent a holiday home in California.
The attractions include the big cities of Los Angeles in the south of the state and San Francisco up in the north. Between them there are thousands of miles of beaches, spectacular cliffs and quiet coves. Thanks to the Pacific Ocean many of them are some of the best surfing beaches in the world.
More than 50 years ago California was the birthplace of the theme park, where Mickey Mouse and pals started their careers at Disneyland in Anaheim. Many other theme parks have grown up in the state where even the Governor – former actor Arnold Schwarzenegger – is pure Hollywood.
California is a very diverse state in that, as well as enjoying an overall warm climate, it is a ski destination too. Holidaymakers can snowboard in the Sierra Nevada mountains in the morning and by afternoon be surfing in the Pacific Ocean.
Just inland from California lies another sunshine state, Arizona, and with a hire car and a rented property it can make a good base for a wide-ranging US holiday. From Arizona a family can explore the neighouring states and countries – Nevada for the glitzy city of Las Vegas plus California and Mexico.
But it has many of its own attractions to be explored first. Arizona is a desert state that enjoys a hot, but dry, climate and there can be up to 310 days of sunshine a year.
Arizona’s own highlights include the mile deep Grand Canyon, the city of Phoenix with its resort town of Scottsdale and the desert with the giant Sonora cacti that have appeared in so many western movies and TV series.
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